An absolute must-try！10 must-eat curry rice spots — Japanese, Thai, and Indian varieties

▲IZUMI CURRY’s super-heavy 12 oz cheeseburger curry rice. (Photo / Reporter Huang Shiyuan)

Travel Center / Comprehensive report

In recent years, curry rice has gained immense popularity in Taiwan, and you can now find it everywhere. Whether it's Japanese, Thai, or Indian curry, as long as it's rich and flavorful, poured over steaming hot white rice, it's guaranteed to make your mouth water. How could any curry rice fan miss out on these spots?

1.IZUMI CURRY
Coming from Osaka, Japan, the curry restaurant IZUMI CURRY uses a generous amount of natural spices, apples, onions, ginger, bananas, honey, vegetables, wheat flour, carrots, and its own slow-cooked beef bone broth in its curry sauce. To ensure the overseas branches maintain the same flavor as the flagship store, up to 15 types of natural spices are imported from Japan. Netizens highly recommend the super-heavy 12 oz cheeseburger curry rice — the burger patty is at least 2 cm thick, topped with melted cheese. Reviewers describe it as an irresistible flavor that keeps you coming back for more.

Address: B3, 1, Section 1, Chengde Rd., Datong District, Taipei City (Jing Station Flagship Store)
Phone: 02-23458199
Business hours: Mon–Thu 11:00–21:30, Fri–Sat 11:00–22:00
Sun 11:00–21:30
Facebook page:Izumi Curry　

▲Curry rice at Miuya Cafe t2. (Photo / Screenshot fromMiuya Cafe 米屋珈t2)

2. Miuya Cafe 米屋珈t2
Aside from coffee and handmade desserts, the curry rice at Miuya Cafe is not to be missed either. The shop doesn’t have a menu — what’s available each day is written on a small blackboard. Their main meals all center around rice, such as the Sunrise Lava Cheeseburger Patty served atop a bed of multigrain rice and curry sauce, with the cheese slowly melting over the patty. Netizens say it’s the perfect combination.

Address: No. 49, Wenchang St., Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-27067067
Business hours: Wed–Sun 12:30–20:30

▲Curry rice at Torarakuya. (Photo / Provided by Guo Xiaosun)

3. Torarakuya 寅乐屋
With a very retro exterior, Torarakuya is small but cozy inside, giving off the vibe of being in Japan. They offer only two curry rice flavors: pork-chicken and beef. A unique option is the macaroni if you prefer not to have rice. Alongside the steaming hot curry rice, there's also a half-boiled egg — the rich curry flavor combined with the egg makes every bite flavorful, and you’ll almost always get some solid bits in each mouthful. Netizens say you can enjoy authentic Japanese-style flavors without leaving Taiwan.

Address: No. 294, Yanji St., Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-23257874
Business hours: Mon–Wed 11:30–21:00, Fri–Sat 11:30–23:30, Sun 11:30–21:00
Facebook page:Torarakuya 寅乐屋-Taipei

▲Egg curry rice with Italian red wine braised beef. (Photo / Screenshot fromMr. 38’s Facebook page)

4. Mr.38 – A Curry Legend
Mr.38’s curry blends various imported spices and plenty of fruits and vegetables, combining Indian and Japanese curry styles to create a flavor that suits Taiwanese palates best. Their portions are generous and offer great value for money. The signature dish, Italian-style red wine braised beef curry omelet rice, features half-boiled eggs on top of steamed white rice, creating a soft and unique texture. Almond flakes are sprinkled on the eggs for an extra touch. They also serve stone pot curry rice.

Yizhong Branch
Address: No. 109, Yizhong St., North District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-22230866
Business Hours: 11:00–21:30

Fengjia Branch
Address: No. 212, Zhishan Rd., West District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-24528188
Business Hours: 11:00–22:00

Donghai Branch
Address: No. 183, Youyuan S. Rd., Longjing District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-26522238
Business Hours: Weekdays 11:00–14:00, 17:00–21:30; Holidays 11:00–21:30

Chongde Branch
Address: No. 57, Sec. 2, Chongde Rd., Beitun District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-22368881
Business Hours: Weekdays 11:00–14:00, 17:00–21:30; Holidays 11:00–21:30

Gongyi Branch
Address: No. 260, Gongyi Rd., West District, Taichung City (Gongyi Rd. Food Street)
Phone: 04-23253838
Business Hours: Weekdays 11:00–14:00, 17:00–21:30

5. Huajia Canteen
Run by a Japanese man and his Taiwanese wife, Huajia Canteen is quite popular in the Minsheng community. The shop has a warm, Japanese-style interior, and netizens say it gives off a relaxing vibe where “you just want to bring your whole family for a happy, hearty meal.” They mainly serve Japanese-style set meals, with soup curry being their signature dish.

Address: No. 137, Yanshou St., Taipei City
Phone: 02-27603090
Business Hours: (Closed Thursdays and the last Thursday of every month)
Weekdays 11:30–14:30, 18:00–21:00; Sat & Sun 11:30–14:30, 15:00–19:00
Facebook Page:Huajia Canteen

6. Kokoro Curry
Brought to Taiwan from Hokkaido, Japan, Kokoro Curry was created by the owner who studied the art of soup curry while studying abroad in Hokkaido. Now you can enjoy the taste of Hokkaido soup curry without leaving Taiwan. Netizens highly recommend their chicken soup curry, made with a whole chicken thigh that’s slow-cooked until incredibly tender and flavorful—“the meat falls off the bone with just a chopstick!”

Address: No. 6, Jingcheng 10th St., West District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-23206657
Business Hours: Weekdays 11:30–14:30, 17:00–21:00; Holidays 11:30–15:00, 17:00–21:00
Facebook Page:Kokoro Curry

▲Beef and egg over rice with red wine. (Photo provided by Upper Right 45 Degrees)

7. Curry Master
The signature beef and egg over rice with red wine at Curry Master features tender beef slices that aren’t chewy, topped with a smooth and rich omelet covering tomato stir-fried rice, all drizzled with a special curry sauce. Diners say it’s a “flavor you’ll crave non-stop!”

Address: B1, No. 52, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2521-7177
Business Hours: 11:30–22:00, no days off
Phone answering hours: 09:00–22:00
Facebook Page:Curry Master Curry Champ 　

8. Indian Flair
Opened by an Indian owner studying in Taiwan who missed home cooking, Indian Flair makes you feel like you’ve stepped into India—the walls are adorned with Indian fabrics and Bollywood movie posters. To preserve the most authentic flavors, all spices are directly imported from India, giving the curry here a uniquely rich aroma.

Address: No. 16, Lane 38, Taisun St., Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2363-3054
Business Hours: 11:30–14:30, 17:30–22:30

9. Snack Thai Bistro
The red curry fried chicken rice at Snack Thai Bistro features a sauce loaded with diced onions and pumpkin slices, poured over fragrant Thai jasmine rice. The chewy rice pairs perfectly with the thick, spicy, and creamy red curry. Beyond curry, netizens rave that their Thai dishes are “surprisingly delicious and great value for money!”

Address: No. 51, Sec. 1, Hai’an Rd., West Central District, Tainan City
Phone: 06-2227737
Business Hours: Monday 11:30–14:30, 17:00–21:00
Wednesday–Sunday 11:30–14:30, 17:00–21:00
Facebook Page:SNACK 食内嗑-泰式小食肆

▲Motsunabe (offal hotpot), curry. (Photo fromMojiko Grilled Curry 0?）